Removable body construction for toy vehicles



Nov. 7, 1950 c. T. BoRcHl-:Rs 2,528,852

REMOVABLE BODY CONSTRUCTION FOR TOY VEHICLES Filed June 1'7, 1949 C. Z. orcaew INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 REMOVABLE BODY CONSTRUCTION FOR TOY VEHICLES Charles T. Borchers, Shelbyville, Ind. Application June 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,710

(Cl. L16 -2.?.3)

1 Claim.

This invention relates to toy vehicle construction, the primary object of the invention being to provide a toy vehicle with interchangeable bodies.

An important object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle including a chassis construction and a removable body designed for slidable connection with the chassis so that the body may be readily removed, and another body positioned in place thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for securing the body in position on the chassis of the vehicle t insure against movement of the body with respect to the chassis, under normal conditions.

X75/'ith the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a chassis constructed in accordance with the invention, illustrating a removable body as positioned thereon.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional View illustrating one means employed in securing a removable body to its chassis.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating a further modified form of chassis and body securing means.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the chassis of the vehicle embodies a Wide plate indicated by the reference character 5, the plate having upwardly and inwardly extended flanges G formed along the longitudinal side edges thereof, the flanges providing grooves 1 with the plate 5, as clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The reference character 8 indicates ears that are stamped from the body 5 which is preferably constructed of thin sheet metal material. However, it is to be understood that the vehicle may be constructed of any desirable material such as plastic or the like.

'I'hese ears 8 are formed with openings through which the axles 9 extend, the axles extending into the wheels I0 which provide the support for the vehicle.

The reference character II indicates a removable body, and it is to be understood that the shape and design of the body may be of various designs, so that the bodies will be interchangeable with the chassis of the vehicle to provide a body, such as sedans, coupes, roadsters, or even trucks.

As shown, the body II is shaped to provide a top I2, and a bottom I3, the bottom being so constructed that it provides ribs I4 disposed alongl its longitudinal edges, which ribs slide into the grooves I from the ends of the grooves, securing the body of the toy vehicle to the chassis.

In the form of the invention shown by Fig. 1 of the drawing, tongues I5 are stamped from the plate of which the chassis is constructed, the tongues being disposed adjacent to the ends of the chassis. These tongues I5 are extended upwardly through openings i6 formed in the bottom I3 of the body, where they lock the body in position on the chassis in such a way that it cannot be accidentally displaced. When it is desired to remove the body, it is only necessary to insert a tool into one of the window openings provided in the body, and force the tongues I5 outwardly disengaging the tongues and body II. The body may now be slid from the chassis and the body replaced by another body of a diierent design, selected at the will of the person manipulating the toy.

Another form of top and body securing means comprises the depression I6, formed centrally of the chassis, which depression receives the boss I'I extending from the bottom of the body I I, the boss being so located that it will move into the depression I6 holding the top against sliding movement longitudinally of the chassis.

As shown by Fig. 4 of the drawing, the bottom I3 is provided with a threaded opening that registers with an opening formed in the chassis I4', the registering openings accommodating the screw I5 to prevent sliding movement of the body with respect to the chassis.

As shown by Fig. 5, the bottom I6 is formed with an opening through which the spring pressed pin Il extends, the pin operating in the housing I8 in which the coiled spring i9' is positioned to normally urge the pin I'I outwardly. The pin snaps into an opening 20' formed in the chassis 2I, when the pin rests directly over the opening. In order to remove the body from this section, it is only necessary to force the pin Il inwardly, and then slide the body longitudinally of the chassis.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to capable of being removably secured to the chassis, to change the body type of vehicle, ,at the will of the person using the toy.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A toy vehicle .comprising a wheel-supported chassis embodying a wide plate, the longitudinal side edges of the plate being extended upwardly and inwardly providing longitudinal grooves at the side edges of the chassis, yieldable upstanding tongues formed on the wide plate, disposed within the grooves, a body, ribs forming a part of the body and disposed within the grooves of the chassis removably securing the body to the chassis, said body having openings into which the tongues extend.

CHARLES T. BORCHERS.

The following references are of record in the [ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTSy Number Name Date 82,766 Stone Oct.'6, 1868 '711,808 Wilson Oct. 21, 1902 1,117,544 Barash Nov. 17, 1914 10 1,270,086 Wochner June 18, 1918 2,172,547 Ruth Sept. 12, 1939- FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 269,172 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1927 

